A woman in her 30s who touched a same-sex body claiming to relieve stress... Supreme Court rules it as forced molestation

[Asia Economy Reporter Baek Kyunghwan] A woman in her 30s who was prosecuted for forcibly touching a same-gender coworker’s body under the pretext of cheering her up was found guilty.

On the 4th, the Supreme Court’s 2nd Division (Presiding Justice Min Yusook) confirmed the original sentence of 10 months imprisonment with a 2-year probation for A (34), who was charged with forcible molestation.

A, who worked as a manager at a Korean medicine clinic, was charged with forcibly molesting the victim B, a nursing assistant, by touching her buttocks and pressing her own cheek against the victim’s cheek.

During the trial, A claimed that she was only joking to cheer B up and had no intention to molest.

However, both the first and second trials recognized A’s guilt and sentenced her to 10 months imprisonment with 2 years probation. The court pointed out that whenever A unnecessarily and excessively tried to get close to the victim’s body, the victim reflexively turned her face or moved her body backward to avoid physical contact with the defendant.

In particular, the court acknowledged the credibility of the victim’s testimony, stating, “The victim’s statements to the investigative agency and in court were consistent, detailed, and without contradictions,” and judged A’s charges as guilty. A’s side appealed, but the Supreme Court dismissed it.